February 22, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Richards Leads Discussion at Literary Festival

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Professor of English Gary Richards

Professor of English Gary Richards

Professor of English Gary Richards led the breakfast book club’s discussion on Anne Rice’s 1976 novel Interview with the Vampire on Saturday, March 29, at the 39th annual Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival in New Orleans. It was his sixteenth time to lead the event, which over the years has covered not only Tennessee Williams’s works but also those of a range of other southern writers associated with the city, such as John Kennedy Toole, Robert Olen Butler, Kate Chopin, Truman Capote, and Eudora Welty.

Crosby Presents on Character Assassination at CARP Conference

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Assistant Professor of Communication Emily Crosby

Assistant Professor of Communication Emily Crosby

Assistant Professor of Communication Emily Crosby recently presented her research at the Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) Conference at George Mason University. Crosby’s research explored the use of “DEI Hire” as political archetype of character assassination in the months leading up to the U.S. Presidential Election. By tracking the proliferation of the hashtag #DEIHire on Instagram, Crosby highlighted the ways it was deployed in reference to candidate Kamala Harris as both slur and badge of honor in digital spaces.

Open Meetings with Vice President of Student Affairs Candidates, Through April 14

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From April 7 – 14 several candidates will interview for the Vice President for Student Affairs position. As announced earlier this semester, Dr. Juliette Landphair will conclude her decade-long tenure in the position, as she takes on a new role at UMW as Associate Vice President for Health & Wellness beginning this summer. We’ve initiated a national search for our next Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) and are excited to welcome the finalists to campus for in-person interviews.

Interview dates and times:

  • Monday, April 7 at 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, April 8 at 3 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 9 at 3 p.m.
  • Monday, April 14, at 3 p.m.

The open meetings will be held in Dodd Auditorium in George Washington Hall.

The candidates will also have time to meet with many members and offices in our campus community during their on-campus interview, and we’ll provide an opportunity for feedback via an online form. Feedback needs to be received by Tuesday morning April 15.

Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President for Student Affairs is a key member of the President’s leadership team and the chief student affairs officer at the University. Offices and units currently in the Division of Student Affairs include Campus Recreation, the Dean of Students, Emergency Management, the Center for Prevention and Education, the James Farmer Multicultural Center, New Student Programs, Public Safety, Residence Life and Housing, the Student Health Center, Student Activities and Engagement, and the Talley Counseling Center.

We appreciate you joining in the search process for this leadership position.

Majid Comments on Credit Card Benefits for WalletHub

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Associate Professor of Marketing Kashef Majid

Associate Professor of Business Kashef Majid

Associate Professor of Business Kashef Majid was featured by WalletHub in an “Ask the Experts” piece that asked the question “Do you think the American Express Gold Card’s benefits are worth the price?” In the article Majid said “Yes – but only if you spend in the right categories. The $250 annual fee is steep and high in comparison to other cards such as Discover or Visa, but the card shines for people who: spend heavily on dining (4X points) or buy groceries using their card (4x points). You can accumulate points quite quickly if your spending is in those categories and then transfer those points for travel.” Read more. 

Mary Talks: Stonestreet Discusses Art & Art Programming, April 16

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Join us online for the last Mary Talk of the season!

On Wednesday, April 16 from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., we will hear from Tracy Stonestreet, Ph.D., director of UMW Galleries. Dr. Stonestreet will discuss “Curating Art and Art Programming at Mary Wash.”

The two galleries on UMW’s campus (duPont Gallery and Ridderhof Martin Gallery) offer exceptional opportunities to showcase student artwork, engage with the community, and–most importantly–educate students on current developments in visual art through national and international exhibitions. In this Mary Talk, Dr. Stonestreet will share her vision for gallery programming that strengthens our engagement with students across campus while increasing our presence in the broader Mid-Atlantic region.

Register here for this Mary Talk; the link to the live streaming session will be in the confirmation email you receive. Can’t watch live? Register anyway, and you can use the link to watch the recording at a later time.

We look forward to seeing you online!

 

 

 

 

Johnson-Young Presents and Wins Award at Eastern Communication Association Conference

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Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young

Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young

Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Johnson-Young presented two works at the Eastern Communication Association Annual Convention in Buffalo, NY. In the Health Communication division, Johnson-Young presented updated results in her work “Parental Perceptions of Pediatric Counseling on Firearm Safety​ and Intentions to Follow Through with Recommendations.” ​This work focuses on survey results investigating how parents receive and intend to follow through on advice from pediatricians regarding firearm safety and asking about firearm safety in another’s home.

In Great Ideas for Teaching Students, Elizabeth presented on an activity and outcomes from the activity she leads in her communication research methods class in a presentation titled “French Fry Goodness and Relationship Closeness: Teaching the Conceptualization Process in Research Methods Using The Big Bang Theory.” This submission was awarded a Top GIFT award during the conference.

ASPIRE Week Lunch, April 17

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University Dining is hosting an “Inclusive Excellence Lunch” on Thursday, April 17 as part of the ASPIRE Week Celebrations. Guests will enjoy a variety of cultural cuisines representing countries from around the world, including the extremely popular Mexican Birria Tacos! The menu will also offer German, Ukrainian, French, Indian, Moroccan, and Filippino dishes, along with the Top of the CRUC’s regular Thursday fare – American Chicken Wings and Buffalo Cauliflower.

Lunch service is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The charge for members of UMW’s faculty and staff is $7.40.  EagleOne and credit cards are accepted.  The price for other guests is $15.51.  For additional information, contact Rose Benedict, University Dining Marketing Manager, at rbenedic@umw.edu or call 540-654-2169.

Imirie Appears on ‘PS: I Love U(MW)’ Series

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Facilities & Events Manager

Facilities & Events Manager Ryan Imirie

A proud UMW alum, Ryan Imirie ’12 knows this campus inside and out—literally. As the Facilities and Buildings Manager for some of the most well-loved spaces at Mary Wash, he keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes.

He recently appeared on the University’s PS: I Love U(MW) social media series. See the episode!

“… working for the buildings themselves is good, but I’d much rather work with the people who make the events happen,” he said.

Watch more episodes from PS: I love U(MW) on the @marywash Instagram.

Cooperman is Speaker for Women in Politics Panel

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Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman

Professor of Political Science Rossalyn Cooperman took part in the second-annual Women in Politics panel hosted by UMW’s Day on Democracy Club, an organization that promotes engagement with the democratic process across the campus community. The Fredericksburg Free Press featured Cooperman in an article about the event titled “Panelists to women with political ambitions: Don’t count yourself out.” Other panelists included Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine and Lorita Daniels, a current member of the Spotsylvania County school board. Read the article.